Housing for guns.



l, STRAUSS & A. S. HALSEY.

HOUSING APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1914- o GUNS.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETS--SHEEIn l.

FIG.

WITNESSES: f

mms3 w. S. msm', HGUSNG FOR GUNS APPLXC Al' FILE SEPT. 4. 1G14.

Patented Beh 8, l9l6.

5 SHEETSf-SHEET 2 )NVENTORS W VTNESSES'.

1 170,577. l Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

I. STRAUSS & A. S. HALSEY.

'HousINo Foa Guns.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.4, 1914.

5 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

i. STR/WSS A. S. HALSEY.

HOUSNG FR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, i914.

Patented Febg 8, 1916.

5 SHEETSfSHEET 4.

y x L I W KTNESSES.'

j. STRAUSS L A. S. HALSEY.

HOUSING FR GUNS.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.4.1914.

Lf?? Paten-ted web. 8, ma.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFioE.

.iosEPH sTRAUss AND ARTHUR s. HALsEY, or WASHINGTOM'DISTRICT or COLUMBIA, ASSIGNoRs To THE GOVERNMENT-0F THE UNITED STATES.

HOUSING FOR GUNS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.-

Application led September 4, 1914. Serial No. 860,299.

- decks, for lguns for use'l on submarines,

adapted to house the gunin a vertical position with the muzzle projecting above the housing, in order to reduce the length of housing below decks, and means for lhoisting th'e gun to the battery position.

This invention relates to that class of guns suitable for ilse on submarines although it may be vused on any class of vessel or' in a shore fortification where 'it` is desired to house the gun in a compartment located b low the batteryor iii-ing position of the gun.

The ,features of -this invention are: First, a water-tight hatch cover rigidly mounted on the gun slide, serving as a shield and provided with a water-tight joint around the gun through which the gun rccoils, and adapted to close the hatch when the gun is housed 1n a vertical. position. Second, means to lock the gun in the vertical position in the mount in order that the gun will enter a small hatch in the deck, means Ato keep the gun raised in the battery position and interlocking means whereby `the-gun cannot be housed until it is locked in the vertical position. Third.l a sight mounting adapted to house the sight behind the hatch cover. Fourth, a hydro-pneumatic cylinder provided with a plunger the upper end of which carries the gun and mount and means for automatically controlling the speed of hoisting or lowering the gun through the hatch. Fifth, counter-balancing springs by ineans of which the gun and shield are counterbalanced about the trunnions ina novel manner. Sixth, a. gun provided with an outer cylindrical sleeve, the function 'of which is to prevent rust and corrosion and to form a water-tight joint in the hatch cover. Seventh. a water-tight muzzle cover, designed to be clamped on the gun muzzle and to keep'watcr 'out of the borewhen the gun is submerged.

In the accompanying drawings, showing clearly this invention: Figure l is a vertical section taken through the hatch, showing the' gun in the battery position. Fig. 2, is a vertical section taken through the hatch showing the gunin 'the housed posit-ion. Fig. 3 is a rear view showing the sight mounting. Fig. 4 is a. section taken through the counterbalancing spring.` Fig. 5 is avlongitudinal section through the hatch cover and muzzle of the'gun. Fig.` 6 is a section through the gun showing the water-tight muzzle cover. Fig. 7 is an end view of the gun, also showing the muzzle cover. Fig. 8 is a detail seetion showin the lookinor device for securin the gun in the firing position and the means for interlockingthe gun with the locking de- Vice whereby. the gun cannotbe housed until it is elevated' to the vertical position. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line X X in Fig. 8 looking from the top and Fig. 10 is a plan view of'Fig. 8 showing the interlocking lever and lugs von the gun.

Referring to the d rawings: the gun (l) is supported in the slide (9.), which is hoiizontally pivoted, by meansof the trunnions, in the carriage .(3), in the usual well known manner. The carriage (3), is mounted in andv revolves on ball or roller bearings formed in the head (4) ofthe lifting plunger (5),`said plunger heilig guided by .key1 (5a). The gun is elevated by the handwhecl (G) and trained by ay handwheel (not shown), the elevating and training gear being mounted in the usual manner and of well known construction, but designed for compactness in order to reduce the diameter of the housing hatch (S), extending down into the submarine (8a) The gun is hoisted and lowered in the vhatch by means of the hydropneumatic cylinder 9) and plunger (5). The head (et) forms, in connection .with the piston 1l), the .support for the gun and is designed to' resist the shock due to tiring. Mounted'in the lower end ofthe hatch (S). is a screw (12), operated lby the handwheel (13) and adapted to engage a lug (13a) in the head (4), when the latter is in thelioused position; the function of the screw is to lock the gun in the hatch. The piston (l1) on the lower endA of the plunger is acted upon by means of liquid, which is forced bv vair pressure through the orifices' (9) extending ,liquid At (11) air pressure is admitted through suitable controlling valves which, acting upon the surface of the liquid, causes the latter to flow to the cylinder.- thus i'aising the gun to the battery position. Byv

allowing the air in the annular space to escape through a suitable exhaust valve, the gun iluay be lowered to the housed position. The communicating holes (9") by a. suitable limitation of their size, serve to automatically regulate the speed of lowering and hoisting in accordance with the well known laws of hydraulics. Pipe (11b) is a drain pipe for removing the water washed in 'from the sea. Although the method of hoistin'g a gun to the battery position by hydraulic pressure is well known it is .believed thatithe combination-of liquid and air pressure'for use in a gun niount in the'inanner heieinbefore described, is new and novel.

The gun is mounted in the slide considerable muzzle. preponderance due to the fact that the center of gravity of the oscillating parts, including the shield (17) is located some distance forward of the trunnions. This is the usual manner of nifountl l le ing guns of high angle fire and necessitates the employment of the counterbalancing spring (16) the operation of which is described hereinafter. Tlie spring (16)- is seated in the end of the casing (16) which is pivotally connected to the slide hy means of the pin (17a) and is compressed by thc rod (18")l which also pivots at (1S)) to the carriage. As the pivot (17a) with the slide oscillates about the trunnions. the distance between the pivots (17) and (19a) increases or diminishes, thus automatically varying the spring pressure roughly to suit the vary-V ing muzzle preponderance. ln gun mounts l of this type now well known, the counterbalancing spring does "not entirely balance the overhang weight a. all angles oic elevation. This is due to the fact that the nioment ot' the oscillating weights varies as the cosine of the angle of elevation while the counter-balancing spring varies in direct proportion to its deflection). In other words the nioinentsdue to the weights would he represented hy one curved line for certain angles of elevation, while the moments due to the spring for the same angles would be represented by either a straight line or a somewhat dil'l'ercnt curved line. In lthis present invention, the spring is so arranged that the moments of the spring and weiglits are approximately equal for any angle of elevation. This result is accomplished by locating the pivots (17a) and (19a) (approximately as shown) so as to vary the length. ot' the lever arm fromitlie trunnions, at which the spring acts(` as the gun is elevated or depressed. Thus atall angles of elevation the product of the spring load times its lever arm nia \7 be inade approxiinatcly equal to the product ot' the oscillating weight tinies'its lever arm and an approximate counter-balance secured. In order to effect a closer approximate 'counterbalaiice, two auxiliary springs (16h) and (16s) are employed. Spring (16D) is conipressed when the gun is vertical and acts against the springv (16) toreduce its pressure, while spring (1Gc)`is coii'ipressed whenV the gun is horizontal and acts in conjunction with spring (1(3) to increase its pressure. By this 'arrangement of springs it isl possible to obtain a very close approximation between thevnit'nneiitsofthe oscillatiiig'weights and the moments of the counterbalancingspriiigs and thus a very satisfactory balance is secured. It is believed that the means for counter-balancing a gun and` unbalanced moment of the gun is considerable, several springs may be required.

Referring to Fig. 5, the hatch cover ('17) is formed as pait of the slide (2) and is provided with lugs (18 and 18) for carrying the sight inounting,a packing ring (19)v and a gland (19h) fitted around the gun and a soft packing ring (20) said ring (20) heing designed to forni a water-tight joint in conjunction with the upper edge ('21) of the hatch (8). This hatch cover (17) is preterably of armor plate adapted as a shield to deflect the. eneniys bullets, etc. The cylindrical hronze'sleeve (Q3) is pressed or shrunk on the outside of thegun and is additionally held hy a locking ring (Q4) which is screwed on the gun by means of thread (Qin).

Referring to Figs. G and 7. the gun muzzle is provided with lugs (25) designed to engage the lugs (2G) formed on the arms oi the carrier (27). The carrier (27) is internally threaded to receive the clamping handle (98), through. the center of which passes the stud (29), rigidly secured to the cover (30) and provided with a collar (31). The cover (30) is provided with an internal flange (32) and a soft packing ring (33). engagingthe annular sharpened siii-tace (34) of the gun when clamped in position, thus making a water-tight joint. The object ot this inuzzlecover is to protect the lhere of the gun whenI the gun 'is submerged;

vents the entrance of water, into the coml pertinent, through the bore.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, showing the sight mounting, the lug (18) secured to the hatch cover (17) is machined to receiverthe horizontal hinge pin of the sight mounting. The-sight saddle (36) is hinged -at the pivot (35) and is provided Withatoothed arc (37) v.which meshes with the elevating 'worm (3S). The'worm (38), by 'meansof the handwhecl (39) mounted in the lug (18a) elevates and depressesthe sight. -The yoke (40) `carries the pointers and trainers telescopes (4l) with eye pieces (4 11) and ispivoted to the saddle (36) hy means of the hinge pin The hand- Wheel (43) mounted in the saddle (36) opcrates the azimuth worin which meshes with the toothed are (45), and provides the azimuth adjustment for-the yoke (40). The

' telescopes (41) are carried by the holders (46) which are pivotally mounted on the bars' (47) secured to the yoke (40) on each side of the mount. When thesightis in. use thetelescopes and holders arelocked'in the full line position shown in Fig. 3 and in this v4psition the field. of the telescope is unobl structed by the' shield. Before the gun can be housed in the hatch of the vessel the telescopes must'be housed soas not to project beyond the limits of the hatch opening and this is. done. by unlocking and swinging the holders into the housed or dot anddash pos'ition vshown in Fig. 3. The telescope hold- `ers are locked on the bars (47) by any suitable means such as the set screws (47a). This sight mounting is designed especially to suit the requirements of this `gun for'use on submarines and the new and novel features comprise the method oi housing the telescopes and the means of setting the sight.

Referring to F S, 9 and 10, showing -the interlocking device, the plunger (5) is machined to receive the locking pawls (50) which are moved in and out by means oi' the dove-tailed wedge (51) fornwd on the lower end of the rod 52). The rod (52) is raised and lowered by means of the interlocking lever pivotally connected to the c arriage by the pin (54) the lever (53) being engaged by the breech end of the gun, when the gun is elevated to vertical position. The

4breech of the gun has formed thereon two lugs (55) which engage the projections (5G) formed on the lever v(53) and serve to push the rod (5'2) down when the gun is depressed from the vertical position.

By refer-'ence to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be -seen that the locking pawls (50) cannot be thrown out until the gun is fullyY raised to the battery position and that when thrown out the pawls rest on the top edge of the bearing (57) formed in the housing hatch and lock the gun securely in battery. Hence` before the gun can be housed in the hatch' it must first be raised to the full vertical position which movement automatically With-- draws the locking pawls and permits the gun to bc lowered, nor can the gun be'moved from the vertical position to any other angle as for tiring until it has been fully raised from the housing hatch. The spring (58) serves to keep thepawls out and in engagement with the hatch when the gun is in the battery position, `Fig. 1. In order that the carriage can be trained with the gun while the lockingr pawls remain fixed in the nontraining plunger, a swiveled joint is provided in rod The nut (59) is screwed on the end of rod (52) said nut being provided with a shoulder (60) to engage'collur (G1) :formed in the rod extension ((32) which is pivotally connected tothe lever (53). The rod (52) and nut- (59) are keyed in the plunger by means of the Hat sides of the wedge 51) while the rod extension (62) revolves with the carriage. vatedt-o the vertical position by means of the handwhecl (6),' Figs. 1 and 2 and is locked in this position in the mount by the elevating worm (7) and connecting gearing.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is l. In a watertight compartment for sheltering and housing a gun and mount, a comzmount. a shield rigidl \v secured to the mount and made a part thereof, said shield provided with a pcrmanmitly watertight joint through which the gun rccoils and through which it projects when the mount is housed, the whole combination being adapted to close the compartment and make 'it ,watertight when the mount is housed, and means for securing the combination in the housed position.

3. In connection with a housing compartment, a combimltion of a gun, a housable mount, a shield rigidly secured to the mount and made a part thereof, said shield provided with a permanently watertight joint through which thc gun recoils and through which it projects when the mount is housed, the whole combination being adapted to close the compa rtmcnt and make it watertight" when the mount is houscd. and means for securing the combination in the battery position.

4. A coinhination oi' a housable sight mounted on a `hield, said shield being rig- The gun jis elc- .95 bination of an up and down adjustable gun idly attached to a'gun mount and made apart thereof and fitted with a permanently watertight joint through which the gun rei coils; said sight in its normal or sighting position projecting beyorld the limits of the shield 1out so adapted as to permit it being closed to ahoused position within the limits of the shield. j

. 5. Ina watertight compartment orsheltering'a gun. and'mount, a combination of an up and down adjust-able gun and mount,

a shield rigidly attached to the mount and made a part thereof, said shield being provided with a permanently watertight joint.

the same a watertight Vhatch cover rigidly Secured to the gun mount and through which the gun recoils and through which it projects, in a permanently watertight litting, when housed, a hydraulic cylinder for hoisting the gun to or lowering it from the battery position, a jacket around the cylinder and orifices in the walls of the cylinder for thc passage of liquid between the jacket to the cylinder' for the purpose of cont-rolling the speed of hoisting or lowering the gun and improved means for operating the hydraulic cylinder.

7. In combination with an adjustable gun mounting, watertight hatch for housing the same, a hydraulic cylinderl for hoisting or lowering the gun to or from its battery position, a jacket around the cylinder, and

orices in the wall of the cylinder for the passage of liquid between the jacket and the cylinder, and means for introducing air under pressure into the jacket to act on the surface of the liquid for the purpose of hoisting the gun to its battery position.

8. A. combination of anadjustable gun mounting, a watertight compartment forhousing the same, a hatch cover secured to the gun mount and made a part thereof, and

through which the gun muzzle projects, in a permanently watertight fitting, both when the gun is in battery and when it is housed and at all intermediate positions, and means for raising or lowering the gun mount from or to the housed position.

9. In combination witha housable mount for guns, a shield rigidly attached to the -f mount and made a part thereof, a, sight normally projecting beyond the limits of the shield when the mount is in the battery position, and means for housing the sight behind and within the limits of the shieldvv when the mount is to be'placed in its housed position.

10. The combination. ofa gun mounting for ships, watertight housing for the same,

a. shield secured rigidly to the gun mount and provided witha permanently watertight fitting through which the gun projects when the mount is housed, acting as a watertight cover for the housing, and a sight normally projecting beyond the limits of the shield and adjustably mounted for housing behind the shield when the gun mount is to Witnesses: l

M. H. Sinfonie, Jr., H. M. KLEE. 

